Marius Șumudică, cruel verdict before the tie with Turkey: “We have no chance!” » Advice for Mircea Lucescu: “That's what I would have done”
Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 9:39 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 9:39 p.m.
Marius Șumudică (55 years old), last coach at Al-Okhdood in Saudi Arabia, is of the opinion that the Romanian national team leaves with a second chance in the play-off with Turkey, decisive for qualifying for the 2026 World Championship.
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Turkey – Romania will be played tomorrow, from 19:00, match broadcast by Prima TV. If we win, we play the World Cup qualification final against Slovakia/Kosovo on March 31, 2026.
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Gazeta Sporturilor has 6 experienced reporters in Istanbul, who deliver the most important information, the best reports and a series of multimedia correspondence.
Marius Șumudică, before the showdown with Turkey: “We have no chance, what can I tell you?”
“We have no chance, what can I say? I say so every time. That every time Şumudica says something, the opposite happens. It is clear that we are leaving with a second chance, without any discussion.
It's not just about what Turkey means at the moment and the level they're playing at. We have to be realistic. They chose a stadium with special acoustics, that of Beşiktaş. I also played there 5-6 times as a coach of Turkish teams. It will be an uproar!”, said Marius Șumudică, according to fanatik.ro.
Later, the technician revealed how he would have approached the match, if he had been in the place of the selector Mircea Lucescu: “I would have closed down, I would have kept the match as much as 0-0, then I would have taken advantage of the spaces left by them, having a speed player Mihăila. That's what I would have done, considering their potential in the side lanes. It is very difficult, one on one, to face.”
Marius Șumudica, impressed by a Turkish player: “Extraordinarily professional”
Marius Șumudică only had words of praise for Zeki Celik, the main right-back variant of the Turkish national team. However, the Roma footballer complained of calf problems and is uncertain for the tie with Romania.
“When there was the Coronavirus, we returned with a private plane and spent 12 days in quarantine. I stayed in a dormitory with him. Day by day, I have never seen in my life, this player did more than 1000 sit-ups. He is an extraordinary professional player. It is not by chance that he is in Rome. Here, he plays on the right lane and plays very high, as a winger (no wing)”.
